A Lake District inn and restaurant has been nominated for a prestigious national award.
Heft, owned by Kevin and Nicola Tickle, has been shortlisted in the pub category of the annual Countryside Alliance Awards.
The awards celebrate the nation’s hard-working small rural businesses, a pat on the back for rural enterprise, providing customers with the opportunity to nominate their favourites.
Heft, in High Newton, is the realisation of Kevin and Nicola’s ambition to create something special.
Kevin and Nicola took over the building in 2020, opening the doors in 2021 after carrying out an extensive refurbishment of the bar, restaurant and kitchens to create a unique and distinctive space. The restaurant serves up Kevin’s unique take on modern British food, created using only the very best produce available from across the British Isles, alongside a wealth of locally reared, farmed, and foraged produce, a major feature of his cooking.
Nicola said: ‘’Everything about Heft is the embodiment of the surroundings in which it sits, and the passion that we both have for the county which we both grew up in and are fortunate to call home. All too often small village pubs up and down the country are forced to close their doors.
“We wanted to buck that trend and show in our own way that something different could be done. Being nominated for a rural ‘Oscar’ recognises what we have set out to try and achieve with Heft, and also helps highlight the importance of supporting rural businesses like ours and the local communities they serve.’’
Countryside Alliance Awards director Sarah Lee said: “These awards provide a cause for celebration in a time of great uncertainty in the countryside. They were set up to provide a voice and a platform for the rural businesses that form the hearts of their communities. Our local produce is second to none and there are many community heroes and businesses worthy of national recognition, so please get involved and nominate today.”
Nominations can be made online at: https://www.countryside-alliance.org/rural-awards/caawards
